| What is Normal?
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| | Urinary tract infections affect both men
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| Each month women across the world have to
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| | and women but women are more likely to
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| deal with the uncomfortable effects of
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| | develop them. Due to the fact that women
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| menstruation. Although women may only
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| | have a shorter urethra, bacteria can
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| experience certain symptoms or varying
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| | infiltrate the bladder more easily. Women
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| degrees of conditions, it is important to
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| | are also more prone to urinary tract
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| recognize the characteristics of a normal
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| | infections if they have had one
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| menstruation cycle. The average length of
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| | previously, if their mothers or sisters
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| a cycle is 28 days. However, "the cycle
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| | have had one, are sexually active, or
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| length may range from 20 to 45 days and
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| | past menopause. Urinary tract infections
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| still be considered normal."
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| | can be treated with antibiotics after
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| Younger women in particular may find that
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| | tests are taken from a health care
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| their menstrual cycles are irregular the
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| | provider.
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| first few years. The typical menstruation
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| | To help ensure the prevention of many of
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| period lasts from three to five days,
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| | the vaginal infections discussed above,
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| though many women experience either
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| | douching and using heavily fragranced
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| shorter or longer periods. The most
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| | soaps and sprays are discouraged. The
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| common characteristics associated with
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| | vaginal area should be kept clean by
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| menstruation include: vaginal discharge,
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| | using mild soap outside the vaginal area.
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| blood flow, vaginal odor, cramps,
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| | Wearing loose fitting clothing, cotton
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| bloating, tenderness in breasts,
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| | underwear, and pantiliners are
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| difficulty sleeping, and moodiness.
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| | encouraged. Other ways to reduce the risk
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| Although several of these symptoms are
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| | of developing yeast and other bacterial
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| typical of PMS (i.e., premenstrual
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| | infections include: practicing safe sex,
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| syndrome), they often persist throughout
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| | wiping from the front to the back,
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| menstruation as well.
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| | reducing stress levels, and keeping
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| In addition to varying menstruation
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| | diaphragms and medication applicators
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| cycles and durations, it is normal for
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| | clean.
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| all women to exhibit vaginal odor,
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| | Other Abnormal Conditions
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| vaginal discharge, and blood flow during
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| | In addition to recognizing unhealthy
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| menstruation. Odor is strongest while
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| | forms of discharge and other infections
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| perspiring and once ovulation begins and
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| | due to bacteria, there are other elements
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| is caused when perspiration mixes with
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| | of menstruation that women should
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| the bacteria from your skin. Wearing
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| | monitor. One major cause for concern is
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| cotton underwear and a pantiliner, even
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| | the absence of menstruation, which is
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| once menstruation has ended will help to
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| | also known as amenorrhea. Adolescent
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| prevent vaginal odor.
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| | girls typically begin their first
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| During menstruation, blood flow can be
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| | menstrual cycle between the ages of
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| light, moderate, or heavy. By the end of
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| | 11-16. Therefore, if a girl has not begun
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| menstruation approximately four
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| | menstruating by the age of 16, she should
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| tablespoons to a cup of blood will be
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| | consult her physician. This type of
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| lost. This flow, which consists of blood
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| | condition is known as primary amenorrhea.
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| and tissue, occurs in various forms of
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| | Other women experience oligomenorrhea,
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| reds and browns. Clotting commonly occurs
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| | which is light or infrequent
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| as well. In addition to the blood flow,
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| | menstruation. This condition is more
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| women also release small amounts of clear
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| | common in young girls who have recently
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| or white vaginal discharge called
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| | begun menstruating. Secondary amenorrhea
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| leukorrhea. This discharge may alter in
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| | occurs when women who previously
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| color and consistency during menstruation
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| | experienced normal menstrual cycles have
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| by becoming heavier and whiter (similar
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| | ceased to menstruate for at least three
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| to an egg white consistency).
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| | cycles.1 Extreme weight loss due to a
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| Leukorrhea is a normal element of the
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| | serious disease, stress, eating
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| menstruation cycle and helps to keep the
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| | disorders, and excessive exercise are
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| vagina clean. However, other types of
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| | potential causes of this absence.
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| vaginal discharge can be dangerous.
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| | Difficulties with reproductive organs and
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| Therefore, it is important to learn the
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| | hormonal problems can also affect the
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| difference between leukorrhea and its
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| | menstrual cycle in this way.
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| more dangerous cousins in an effort to
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| | Although women experience varying degrees
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| prevent vaginal discharge that can be
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| | of symptoms, extreme levels should be
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| harmful in the future.
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| | recognized. If bleeding is excessively
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| Unhealthy Vaginal Discharge
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| | heavy (an average loss of blood is two
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| Unhealthy vaginal discharge is generally
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| | ounces), occurring between menstruation
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| associated with bacterial infections.
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| | periods, or periods are occurring too
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| Although there are several forms of such
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| | close together, a woman may be
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| infections, each is associated with an
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| | experiencing menorrhagia. However, it is
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| unpleasant odor, vaginal irritation,
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| | not uncommon for young girls who have
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| itching, and painful urination. The most
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| | recently started the menstruation cycle
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| common type of unhealthy vaginal
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| | to spot between periods. Extremely long
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| discharge is bacterial vaginosis. This
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| | periods, those lasting longer than ten
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| discharge can be caused by the organism
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| | days, are also characteristic of this
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| Gardnerella, an anaerobic bacteria, which
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| | condition. This condition is also known
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| forms in the absence of oxygen. However,
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| | as DUB (i.e., dysfunctional uterine
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| Gardnerella is only one of many bacteria
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| | bleeding).
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| that can be associated with bacterial
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| | Hormonal imbalances, fibroids and polyps
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| vaginosis; others include Prevotella,
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| | could also cause these symptoms.
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| Bacteroides, Mycoplasma, Mobiluncus.
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| | Cramps, another common condition of
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| Bacterial vaginosis can be detected by
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| | menstruation, should only cause concern
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| clear, milky white, or gray discharge and
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| | if they are frequent, severely painful,
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| vaginal odor. The discharge can be light
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| | and cannot be relieved with over the
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| or heavy. However, symptoms are worse
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| | counter pain medication, such as
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| near menstruation and after having
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| | ibuprofen or aspirin.
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| unprotected sexual intercourse. When the
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| | Dysmenorrhea, the cause of such cramping,
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| vaginal fluid is mixed with semen, the
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| | can either be caused from very "extreme
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| odor intensifies.
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| | uterine muscle contractions" or other
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| Although women who are not sexually
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| | medical conditions, such as uterine
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| active can develop bacterial vaginosis,
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| | fibroids and endometriosis. These extreme
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| it is more common in women who have had
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| | contractions usually begin two to three
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| multiple sexual partners. Women may also
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| | years after menstruation has started and
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| be more apt to develop this condition
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| | can last up to 32-48 hours after bleeding
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| after engaging in sexual intercourse with
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| | has begun. Treatment for both
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| a new partner.4 Douching and poor
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| | dysmenorrhea and menorrhagia is dependent
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| feminine hygiene also increase the
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| | upon further investigation by a
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| likelihood of developing this bacterial
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| | physician.
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| discharge and others. Many women who have
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| | Toxic Shock Syndrome
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| bacterial vaginosis do not even notice
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| | Women should also be cognizant of any
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| the symptoms. Even in the absence of
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| | sudden or major changes in their bodies
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| physical symptoms, however, bacterial
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| | during menstruation when using tampons.
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| vaginosis can be detected during a
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| | TSS (i.e., toxic shock syndrome) is a
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| physical exam and treated with
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| | rare but dangerous condition that is
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| antibiotics.
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| | caused by toxins of certain types of
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| A yeast infection is another form of a
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| | bacteria and is associated with tampon
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| bacterial infection that affects many
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| | use.5 In fact, approximately half of TSS
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| women and is caused by the fungus
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| | cases are from women using tampons and
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| Candida. In fact 75% of women will incur
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| | teenagers and women under 30 have an
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| at least one yeast infection during their
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| | increased risk of developing TSS.
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| lives. Vaginal discharge associated with
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| | Other cases of TSS have also been linked
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| yeast infections is white with a cottage
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| | to infections following surgeries, insect
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| cheese consistency. Like bacterial
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| | bites, and burns. The most common
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| vaginosis, there are several reasons one
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| | symptoms of TSS are vomiting, diarrhea,
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| may develop a yeast infection.
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| | high temperature, dizziness, muscle
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| Hormone changes, wearing tight fitting
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| | aches, feeling faint, and a sunburn-like
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| clothing or wet bathing suits for
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| | rash. TSS also causes a loss of blood
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| extended periods of time, diabetes, being
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| | pressure (called hypotension) which leads
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| overweight, and the use of antibiotics
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| | to dizziness, fainting, and ultimately
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| seem to be linked with yeast infections.
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| | may lead to a loss of function of the
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| Taking antibiotics not only destroys
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| | entire organ systems (gastro-intestinal,
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| harmful bacterial but useful bacteria as
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| | nervous, respiratory, etc.). If this
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| well, which disrupts the body's balance.
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| | condition develops, a health care
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| However, antibiotics can still be
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| | professional should be contacted
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| effective in treating unhealthy vaginal
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| | immediately. Additionally, it is
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| discharge. Not only are yeast infections
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| | important to choose the lowest necessary
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| common, but approximately five percent of
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| | tampon absorbency level and to change the
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| women develop such infections four or
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| | tampon every four to eight hours (or more
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| more times a year. This condition is
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| | if necessary).
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| known as RVVC (recurrent vulvovaginal
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| | Alternating the use of tampons with
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| candidiasis).
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| | feminine pads will help to decrease the
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| "Although RVVC is more common in women
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| | risk of TSS. However, in women who are
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| who have diabetes or problems with their
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| | predisposed or susceptible to TSS, even
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| immune systems, most women with RVVC have
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| | the correct, conservative use of tampons
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| no underlying medical illnesses." Whether
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| | is not a surefire way of preventing TSS.
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| a yeast infection is reoccurring or
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| | If you are predisposed to TSS consult
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| infrequent, women are encouraged to see
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| | your physician for more information on
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| their health care providers if an
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| | the best preventative methods.
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| infection is suspected. Yeast infections
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| | Putting it All Together
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| can be cured through the use of oral
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| | After reading about these characteristics
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| pills, vaginal suppositories, and vaginal
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| | one may still be questioning whether her
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| creams. Although anti-yeast creams are
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| | menstrual cycle is normal and healthy.
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| effective in curing yeast infections,
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| | Answering several questions will help to
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| they do not cure other types of vaginal
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| | determine this answer. Has your cycle
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| infections. Additionally, some creams may
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| | undergone any major changes? Although
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| weaken latex condoms and diaphragms.
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| | menstruation may not occur exactly on the
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| Another major type of vaginal infection
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| | 28th day each month (unless you are using
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| is trichomoniasis. Women experiencing
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| | birth control pills), it is important to
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| this condition will exhibit similar
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| | fall within the range of 20-45 day cycles
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| symptoms found in yeast infections and
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| | consistently.
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| bacterial vaginosis. However, vaginal
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| | Are your periods extremely heavier or
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| discharge associated with trichomoniasis
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| | lighter than usual? It is common for the
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| is typically yellowish green.
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| | flow level to fluctuate during a
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| Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted
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| | menstrual period but it should be
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| disease with an increased risk of
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| | somewhat consistent from month to month.
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| contraction for women who have had more
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| | If you experience cramps, are they
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| than one sexual partner. Men rarely
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| | debilitating? Yes cramps can be annoying
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| exhibit symptoms, which increase the
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| | and painful but they should not prevent
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| probability of reinfection for women.
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| | you from getting out of bed or
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| Like women experiencing bacterial
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| | participating in normal life activities
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| vaginosis some women may appear
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| | each month. Finally, is your vaginal
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| asymptomatic. Therefore, taking safety
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| | discharge and odor heavy and strong?
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| precautions during sexual intercourse can
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| | If your discharge is clear and not overly
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| reduce the risk of trichomoniasis. Both
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| | foul outside of your ovulation and
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| men and women can be treated with
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| | menstruation period, it is a good
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| antibiotics.
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| | indication that the discharge is healthy.
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| The final common type of bacterial
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| | Considering all of these factors will
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| infection that affects one in five women
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| | assist women in determining if their
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| is a urinary tract infection. Although
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| | menstrual cycles are normal and healthy.
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| vaginal discharge does not occur,
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| | However, all women should actively seek
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| irritation during urination is present.
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| | to prevent vaginal discharge that is
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| Cloudy and foul smelling urine, blood in
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| | outside the norm, get regular physical
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| urine, lower back pain, urinating in
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| | examinations, and question medical
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| small amounts, and the need to urinate
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| | professionals if concerns arise. Taking
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| frequently are common symptoms of a
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| | these precautions will help to promote a
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| urinary tract infection.
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| | woman's health.
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